Zachariah Branch electrifies another USC game with dazzling skill and elite speed
Another game, another Zachariah Branch kick return. While Branch will hopefully evolve quickly enough as a receiver that USC will be able to stretch opposing defenses, the Trojans are still getting great value from the freshman because of what he does on kick returns.
If USC can get kick-return touchdowns from Branch on a regular basis, it will increase its margin for error in the biggest games of its season, which are coming up in a month against Notre Dame and Utah. Anything which relieves the burden on Caleb Williams to do everything for this team is a big plus.
Branch was at it again against Stanford, racing to the end zone on a kick return and making it look very easy.
Notably, Miami Dolphin wide receiver Tyreek Hill — in town for the NFL opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday — attended this USC-Stanford game. He briefly talked to Branch afterward.
You can’t get enough Zachariah Branch highlight videos and appreciation tweets. Here they are from the Stanford game, including the simple piece of advice Tyreek Hill gave to Branch:
HOUSE CALL
TO. THE. HOUSE. 🏡🤯@zachariahb03 X @uscfb pic.twitter.com/YeUB2rRl2b
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2023
DON'T KICK TO HIM, USC OPPONENTS!
Need Jack Bouwmeester to punt the ball directly out of bounds when Utah plays USC. Sheesh. What a player. https://t.co/f8LtiwtgCV
— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) September 10, 2023
HARD TO ARGUE
Zachariah Branch is the most electric player in college football https://t.co/1TZwqRtlyk
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) September 10, 2023
REGGIE
Okay, this one really reminded me of #5 👀 https://t.co/SrGZOFCwdY
— Diante Lee (@DianteLeeFB) September 10, 2023
KICK RETURN MASTER
USC got Devin Hester junior on the team. https://t.co/mZK6yPo8UA
— Beyond Sports – ProfessionalAF (@stadiumcritic) September 10, 2023
ELITE SPEED
The speed is absolutely ridiculous. I get the same vibe from 1 that I got from @AdoreeKnows & @ReggieBush https://t.co/yaMqDYWUYg
— CMDeezy (@2Eazy4Deezy) September 10, 2023
MATH
Should probably stop kicking to this guy… 🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/7PFrJHCuv7
— Chris (@chrispopp66) September 10, 2023
TURNING ON THE JETS
Looking like Tavon back there https://t.co/Bv08Q4DG7I
— Big Duffy 🎒🎒 (@BIGJAYLITTLE) September 10, 2023
ONLY A FRESHMAN
A legend in the making https://t.co/aI86smXOwV
— Maximo Blu Gonzales (@BluMambaSports) September 10, 2023
BUILDING A REPUTATION
best returner I’ve seen since hester https://t.co/ZxukvWiNoH
— Julian Garcia (@terpsu) September 10, 2023
PLAYMAKER
The best big play player in the country. Best returner since Devin Hester. https://t.co/aVXz2JKNUh
— @a1extimmons.bsky.social & threads (@A1exTimmons) September 10, 2023
SHOWTIME
Zachariah Branch is like a young @ReggieBush ❤️💛🏈✌️ https://t.co/5Z5m5V5FeJ
— Kristen Clark (@USCgirl628) September 10, 2023
ACTION-PACKED
Djack 2.0 https://t.co/we2eCiVBXW
— chaz 🦦 (@californiowa) September 10, 2023
DOING WHAT HE DO
There goes that Man again 😳✌🏽✌🏽💯💯 https://t.co/6mLr7T8oFT
— BILL.ENA 🇦🇸 (@ENA_BILLE) September 10, 2023
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O
M
G
!!!!!!
This kid is ELECTRIC!!@zachariahb03 #GoTrojans https://t.co/CSB7UQOdvG— TOM JAMES! (@TomJamesLive) September 10, 2023
RIDICULOUS
Branch is absolutely insane https://t.co/8geSRMJWHs
— Zach Klemmer🇮🇹🇦🇷 (@zakklemmerrr) September 10, 2023
COMPARISONS KEEP COMING
Bro is really Desean Jackson 2.0 https://t.co/IIUe17Vir1
— Perro Grande (@RoThaFro) September 10, 2023
CERTAINLY GREAT
Greatest I’ve ever seen https://t.co/1jl1e1W0ol
— Zach (@TREV0NDIGGS) September 10, 2023
NUMBER ONE FOR A REASON
BEST IN THE WORLD https://t.co/xBrKFSe3OK
— WIZARD KELLY (@CKM11) September 10, 2023
TYREEK HILL ADVICE
Zachariah Branch says he was able to talk to Tyreek Hill briefly on the sideline during USC’s game tonight. Branch says that Hill told him to “keep going crazy.”
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) September 10, 2023
SELF-AWARENESS
#USC WR Zachariah Branch knows how good he is: “Me with space is kinda deadly.”
— Jack Smith 🎙 (@jacksmithpxp) September 10, 2023
WE ALL DO
“I hope they keep doing it.” Riley when asked if he’s surprised that teams are still kicking to Zachariah Branch. #USC
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) September 10, 2023
INDEED
Why is anyone still kicking to Zachariah Branch, lol
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 10, 2023